Page 74 of His Ruthless Match

“That’s enough fun for one night,” I said, my tone sharper than I intended. Without waiting for a response, I turned and headed to the bar.

I could feel his gaze burning into my back, but I refused to look back. I didn’t trust myself to.

21

JARETH

Eva walked confidently through the crowd, her black dress flowing like liquid onyx with every step. Her back was straight, her chin high, but I could see the tension in her shoulders and how she clenched her clutch just a little too tightly. She was nervous, though she’d never admit it.

Eva suddenly grabbed my arm, her wide eyes darting toward a man walking in our direction.

“Shit. I can’t let him see me,” she said, tilting her head so slightly in the man’s direction. “The one in the navy suit, tall, with the salt-and-pepper hair.”

I followed her gaze and took in the man’s appearance: six-two, polished shoes, a sharp suit tailored within an inch of its life, and a smug expression that practically screamed entitlement. He moved with an ease that only came from years of getting his way.

“That guy?” I asked, my voice dripping with disdain. “What’s his deal?”

Eva’s lips pressed into a tight line. “That’s Dr. Robert Hayes. He’s a psychiatrist. He’s shown… an uncomfortable interest in me before. He’s a little handsy, and I’d prefer to avoid a scene.”

That made my blood boil. I gripped the champagne flute so hard I was surprised it didn’t break. She didn’t have to elaborate for me to know exactly the kind of guy Hayes was.

Eva turned to me, her voice dropping to a whisper. “I need you to pretend to be my boyfriend.”

I blinked, caught off guard. “Excuse me? Your what?”

“Just for a minute, to keep him off my back,” she said, her tone tinged with desperation. “Please.”

I let a slow smirk spread across my face, taking my time just to watch her squirm. “You want me to pretend to date you? The very idea.”

“I’m serious, Jareth. Do you want me to get groped all night, or are you going to help me?”

I sighed, drawing out my response just to irritate her. “Oh, I’m going to enjoy this.”

Before she could retort, Hayes was upon us. His eyes raked over Eva like she was a shiny new toy he wanted to add to his collection. “Well, if it isn’t the beautiful Eva Delgado.”

I slid my arm around her waist, pulling her close against my side. She stiffened slightly, but she didn’t pull away. “And who might you be?” I asked, infusing a low growl into my voice.

He flicked me an irritated glance. “I didn’t realize Eva was seeing anyone.”

I grinned at him, all teeth and no warmth. “You must’ve missed the memo. I never let her out of my sight.”

Eva put her hand on my chest. Her smile was polite but icy. “Robert, this is Jareth. Jareth, Dr. Hayes.”

“Charmed,” I said, though my tone suggested I was anything but.

Hayes’s smile tightened. His polished veneer started to crack. “Well, Eva, you always did have a knack for surprises.”

I squeezed her waist slightly and leaned down to brush my lips against her ear. “She certainly keeps me on my toes. Don’t you, sweetheart?”

Eva’s eyes blazed with fury, but her voice didn’t waver. “Always.”

The tension between the three of us was thick enough to choke on. Hayes shifted his weight from one foot to the other, his polished shoes squeaking against the marble floor. He probably wasn’t used to being challenged, especially not in public. The faint smirk that had been plastered on his face when he first approached was now slipping, and I watched the cracks in his confidence grow with something close to satisfaction.

He cleared his throat, attempting to reestablish dominance. “Well, Eva, I must admit I didn’t expect to see you here tonight. Let alone with company.”

The way he said “company” rankled me. It dripped with condescension, as if he couldn’t fathom someone like me standing beside her.

I pulled Eva closer, letting my hand settle possessively at her hip. She stiffened for a fraction of a second before relaxing against me.